Endocrine Cells in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Garra rufa

Abstract

Summary The distribution and relative frequency of endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract of the Garra rufa were studied immunohistochemically using the peroxidase anti-peroxidase complex method. The aim was to determine the distribution of specific immunoreactivities in some regions of digestive tract of the Garra rufa against the antisera VIP, substance-P, histamine, glucagon, gastrin, CCK-8, somatostatin and serotonin. The samples were taken from the enlarged areas of after oesophagus, anterior intestine, middle intestine and posterior intestine. The most intensive region of immunoreactive cells were determined as the anterior intestine. Generally, eight types of endocrine cells declined in number from the enlarged areas of after oesophagus to the intestines. These immunoreactive cells were found in the posterior intestine at very low frequencies. As a result of the immunohistochemical studies, all the peptides studied were determined to be localized generally in different distribution within the stomachs of Garra rufa (the enlarged areas of after oesophagus) as well as within their intestines (anterior, middle and posterior intestine). Density of the peptides was concluded to be associated closely with functions in Garra rufa.